A Novel Approach to Improving Post-Operative Pain and Minimizing Opioid Consumption After a Hip Arthroscopy

There have been many different approaches to controlling pain in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy. These include medications, nerve blocks, and intra-articular injections among many others. We introduced a combination of a pre-operative pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block, and intra-operative pericapsular injection of BKK (bupivacaine, ketamine, and ketorolac).

Patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy were identified. There were three patient cohorts based on type of anesthesia: general anesthesia only (GA), general anesthesia and a pericapsular Marcaine injection (GA/Marcaine), or GA with pre-operative PENG block and an intraoperative BKK pericapsular injection (GA+PENG/BKK). Data collected included post-operative pain scores in the PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit), time spent in the PACU, inpatient opioid consumption (both PACU and inpatient), and outpatient opioid prescriptions filled.

20 patients received GA, 11 patients received GA/Marcaine, and 20 patients received GA+PENG/BKK. The GA+PENG/BKK group had average PACU pain score of 3.9 out of 10 compared to 7.7 in the GA group (p<.001) and 6.6 in the GA/Marcaine injection group (p=.048). The GA+PENG/BKK group had shorter mean PACU times than either other group (p<.001). The GA+PENG/BKK also consumed less opioids than the GA or GA/Marcaine groups in the PACU (p<.001), and in the total inpatient stay (p=.002, p=.003), as well as outpatient (p=.019, p=.040).

In patients undergoing a hip arthroscopy, performing a pre-operative PENG block and intra-operative BKK pericapsular injection will result in decreased postoperative pain, PACU time, and inpatient and outpatient opioids compared to general anesthesia only and general anesthesia with intracapsular Marcaine.